Ephesians 2:12

The stranger and outcast Hope Loneliness

¹⁰ For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

¹¹ Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—

remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
KJV: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
WEB: that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
ASV: that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
DARBY: that ye were at that time without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
BLB: that at that time you⁺ were apart from Christ, having been alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, not having hope and without God in the world.

ÅB: at dere på den tid sto utenfor Kristus, utelukket fra Israels borgerrett og fremmede for paktene med deres løfte, uten håp og uten Gud i verden;
OTB: husk at dere på den tiden var adskilt fra Kristus, utelukket fra Israels borgerrett, og fremmede for løftets pakter, uten håp og uten Gud i verden.
B1930: at I på den tid stod utenfor Kristus, utelukket fra Israels borgerrett og fremmede for paktene med deres løfte, uten håp og uten Gud i verden;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Galatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
Read in context
Colossians 1:21
Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.
Read in context
1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Read in context
Jeremiah 31:31–34
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
Read in context
1 Thessalonians 4:13
Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.
Read in context
Ephesians 4:18
They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
Read in context
Ezekiel 37:26
And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary among them forever.
Read in context
John 15:5
I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
Read in context